Mental Health Care in Texas

Mental Health Facilities by City in Texas

The Texas cities with the most SAMHSA-listed mental health facilities. All 187 cities are listed below the table.

Crisis and Support Lines in Texas

Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, any time. Local mental health authorities and local behavioral health authorities deploy mobile crisis outreach teams to respond to calls in the community. In a mental health crisis, HHSC says to call the crisis hotline of the local mental health or behavioral health authority for your county; the 988 Lifeline in Texas also partners with mobile crisis outreach teams.

• 2-1-1 Texas: 2-1-1 · text 2-1-1
• Austin Travis County Integral Care crisis line: 512-472-4357 (Austin Travis County Integral Care crisis line) · 24/7
• North Texas Behavioral Health Authority crisis line (Dallas region): 866-260-8000 (North Texas Behavioral Health Authority crisis line (Dallas region)) · 24/7
• The Harris Center crisis line (Houston area): 866-970-4770 (The Harris Center crisis line (Houston area)) · 24/7

• Texas crisis services

Texas's Mental Health Agency

Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) oversees public mental health services in Texas.

• Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
• Find local services through Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)

Medicaid Mental Health Coverage in Texas

Texas's Medicaid program is Texas Medicaid (STAR, STAR+PLUS, STAR Kids and STAR Health managed care programs) and CHIP. Children's Medicaid services, including behavioral health, are primarily delivered through managed care. Members choose a health plan from the ones available in their service area. STAR Health, for children in state conservatorship, is administered by a single statewide MCO and provides integrated physical and behavioral health care. Covered mental health services the state names include Screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment, Psychological, neurobehavioral and neuropsychological testing, Mental health targeted case management, Mental health rehabilitation, Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation, Peer specialist services, Medication management, Individual, family and group psychotherapy, Electroconvulsive therapy, Collaborative care model services, Inpatient psychiatric services, Residential and outpatient withdrawal management and SUD individual and group counseling. The guide states that both Medicaid and CHIP cover screening and treatment services for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Since 2024, MCOs may voluntarily offer partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and coordinated specialty care as in-lieu-of services. Two Medicaid programs provide specialized behavioral health services: Youth Empowerment Services (YES) and Home and Community-Based Services-Adult Mental Health (HCBS-AMH).

• Texas Medicaid (STAR, STAR+PLUS, STAR Kids and STAR Health managed care programs) and CHIP mental health services
• Texas Medicaid behavioral health

Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) and Local Behavioral Health Authorities (LBHAs)

HHSC contracts with 37 local mental health authorities and two local behavioral health authorities to deliver mental health services in communities across Texas. Their crisis services are available 24/7 and include a prompt face-to-face crisis assessment, crisis intervention services, a crisis follow-up and relapse prevention services.

• Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) and Local Behavioral Health Authorities (LBHAs) in Texas

Check a Therapist's License in Texas

Before you start, confirm your therapist or psychologist holds an active Texas license.

• Psychologists, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers: Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners)

Guides for Your Next Step

See how to find a therapist, how sliding-scale therapy works, whether Medicaid covers therapy and the difference between a psychiatrist and a therapist.

Related on rehab.help: addiction treatment in Texas.

Frequently Asked Questions